French Fantasy 1x1 Anna and Echo

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"No dying," Callias reminded him. "That's not allowed." He tangled his fingers into Lucien's hair. "Of course I'll write back. And of course I want you to return, my dear."

[AnnaCat17]

Lucien smiled sadly and kissed him once last time before walking off to meet the soilder, unable to bring himself to fully say goodbye.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Callias' heart squeezed painfully and he forced himself to stay still and not run after him.

---next day,

Callias made a list of all the soldiers, everyone who'd be drafted to fight the battle with England. He send guards to notify them, and a guard went to both Gale's and Ashr's house. One also went to Abel's but he wasn't there. He had fallen asleep in Eloise's bed.

[AnnaCat17]

Fleur was still with Ashr, trying to help him figure out life without Thisbe. She looked up from where she was washing dishes as she heard the knock at the door. "Were you expecting someone?"

Gale raced through the streets of town, desperate to find Ilaria and Fleur before he was sent away. He needed to say goodbye. He pounded on Ilaria's door when he reached it, praying she was there.

Eloise slowly woke up, but wish she hadnt. She still didnt feel safe but seeing she was in her room made her feel a bit better. She looked at Abel quietly before gently brushing her fingers across his cheek.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Ashr frowned. "Not at all." He went to the door tiredly, a hand pressed to his chest wound. He stiffened as he saw the guard outside his door, but he hadn't guessed what it was for until the guard spoke. He slowly went back inside, trying to piece together everything in his mind.

Ilaria opened it, her brows furrowed in worry from the panicked knocking. "Gale! What's wrong?"

Abel murmured softly in his sleep, his head tilting towards her light touch.

[AnnaCat17]

Fleur had only heard pieces of what the guard said but hoped what she had heard was wrong. "Ashr..." She said in a scared voice, clutching a plate tightly in her hands. "What did he say?"

Gale quickly pulled her into his arms, kissing her roughly as he was desperate to get one last moment in with her. After a moment he pulled away slightly but kept a tight grip on her. "The war has started. They are sending me to the front lines to fight. I leave on the train tonight." He explained quickly through the pain in his voice.

Eloise hesitated before softly kissing his cheek to wake him. "Good morning." She said quietly to him.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"I'm being drafted. I leave tonight on the train," he said bitterly. He sat down in the couch, running his hand briskly through his hair.

Ilaria clutched him tightly and kissed him back, melting into his embrace. "No...," she whispered, gazing up at him fearfully, tears welling in her eyes. "You can't leave! I won't let you!" She sobbed, burying her face in his chest.

A calm, blissful expression cross his face and he wrapped his arms around her, tugging her closer. "Morning, my beautiful wife," he murmured, not quite awake yet. He smiled, curling up closer to her.

[AnnaCat17]

Fleur carefully sat the plate down on the counter before walking over and sitting beside him. If they wee drafting Ashr then that meant someone like Gale would definitely be leaving. Fr the first time in her life she was going to be completely alone. She gently took his hand in both of hers and kissed the back of it. "We will get through this. I will take care of things here while you are gone and once you come back ill make sure everything is perfect for you."

Gale held her protectively in his arms, his forehead pressed to hers. "Im going to come back. I promise. As soon as I can ill be back and ill take out for a walk in the gardens and a boat ride in the lake. Ill bring you a thousand flowers and kiss you once for every petal that there is. Im going to come back."

Eloise blinked in shock at his words but didnt pull away, assuming he was just teasing her or being silly. "Well arent you a joker in the morning." She said with a smile, running a hand through his hair and enjoying how soft it felt.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Ashr didn't respond. He was lost in thought. He wasn't going to be in the front lines. He'd only be there in case they needed extra support. They knew he was still healing. He leaned gently against her shoulder, sighing heavily. He'd miss her. A lot. She was the only reason he wanted to make it back alive.

Ilaria closed her eyes, imagining it. She sighed softly, resting her forehead against his. "I'll be looking foreword to it."

He mumbled something like, "You're funny, Rose." He cuddles her closer, sighing happily.

[AnnaCat17]

Fleur began to kiss every inch of skin she could see, covering his face in kisses as she tried to pull him back to reality. "How can I help you, Ashr?" She pleaded, hating to see him fall back into the pit she had been trying to help him out of.

Gale gently kissed her nose. "Promise me you will write to me."

Eloise frowned, realizing this wasnt just a joke. He had a wife? She carefully pulled away from him. She shouldn't be in bed with another man's husband. Not only was it wrong but it would shine badly on Callias if she was caught in bed with a married man. She went off to the bathroom to get out of her dirty night dress and to change into her day clothes, hoping he would be gone by the time she came back out.